NumbersChapter 27

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¹Zelophehad had daughters. He was the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. They were from the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. His daughters were named Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They came forward ²to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. They stood in front of Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the people. They said, ³"Our father died in the wilderness. But he was not one of Korah's followers who joined together against the LORD. He died because of his own sin. And he had no sons. ⁴Why should our father's name disappear from his clan just because he had no sons? Give us land among our father's brothers." ⁵So Moses brought their case to the LORD. ⁶And the LORD answered him, ⁷"Zelophehad's daughters are right. You must give them land as an inheritance among their father's brothers. Give their father's inheritance to them. ⁸Also, tell the Israelites, 'If a man dies and has no son, give his inheritance to his daughter. ⁹If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. ¹⁰If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers. ¹¹If his father has no brothers, give his inheritance to his closest relative in his clan. That person will own it. This is to be a lasting law for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.'" ¹²Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go up this mountain in the Abarim range. Look at the land I have given the Israelites. ¹³After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was. ¹⁴That is because both of you rebelled against my command when the people argued in the Wilderness of Zin. I told you to show that I am holy in front of them at the waters." These were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin. ¹⁵Then Moses spoke to the LORD. He said, ¹⁶"May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all people, choose a man to be over these people. ¹⁷Let him go out and come in ahead of them. Let him lead them out and bring them in. Then the LORD's people won't be like sheep without a shepherd." ¹⁸The LORD answered Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun. He is a man who has the Spirit in him. Put your hands on him. ¹⁹Have him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the people. Then give him his task while they watch. ²⁰Give him some of your authority. Then all the people of Israel will obey him. ²¹He will stand before Eleazar the priest. Eleazar will ask the LORD what to do for him by using the Urim. At his command, Joshua and all the Israelites with him will go out and come in. The whole community will do this." ²²Moses did what the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and all the people. ²³Then he put his hands on him and gave him his task. He did it just as the LORD had said through Moses.